[GNC] New auto-clear splits pop-up in reconcile

Sat Dec 13 05:45:33 EST 2025

Christopher,

Thanks for the clarifications. Without the explanation regarding its trigger (that is, it only happens if there's an unambiguous solution), the feature is confusing and a little unnerving to me. 

Because of that, I'd want to be sure that users got decent information from the app, probably through clear text in a dialog (if that is the implementation) or a tool tip (if it is added as an option in the main reconcile dialog).

For the record, I'd think adding the option to the initial reconcile dialog would be clearer and allow users to take advantage of not as they choose. 

⁣David T. 

On Dec 13, 2025, 6:46 AM, at 6:46 AM, Christopher Lam <christopher.lck at gmail.com> wrote:
>Thanks to all feedback; the nightlies and devel list are classically
>appropriate discussion areas. This addition won't feature in the
>upcoming
>5.14 release.
>
>As expected there are valid uses for autoclear; I am happy to autoclear
>where appropriate, and enabling it via reconciliation would be a useful
>shortcut. If autoclear is presented, it means there is a unique
>combination
>of uncleared splits which can be cleared to the balance presented, and
>has
>saved a few tedious clicking. If autoclear is not presented, it means
>either there are ambiguous combinations (e.g. uncleared splits have +10
>and
>-10 and it's unclear whether they should both be included or excluded,
>or
>there are amounts 2, 3, 5 and the target balance is 5), or (IMHO this
>is
>much more useful) the reconciliation balance *cannot be reached with
>the
>uncleared splits*, therefore either there's an error in data entry, or
>the
>desired reconciliation balance is incorrect. Therefore reconciliation
>will
>be much slower. To me this is very valuable information.
>
>Other options to show the algorithm are either within the initial
>reconcile
>balance dialog [1] whereby the Autoclear button is only enabled if it's
>available, or via a toolbar button in the double-pane reconcile view
>[2].
>Thoughts? Either will lead to a delay when updating the reconcile
>information, or before showing the double pane view.
>
>[1]
>Reconcile information
>Statement date: ...
>Starting balance: ...
>Ending balance: ...
>[x] include subaccounts
>
>[Enter interest payment]
>[Cancel] [Autoclear] [OK]
>
>[2]
>[Balance][Edit][Reconcile selection][Unreconcile
>selection][Delete][Open][Finish][Postpone][Cancel][Autoclear]
>
>On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 at 06:00, David Carlson
><david.carlson.417 at gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>> I haven't seen this option in action yet myself but if it is never
>> automatically selected when it does appear,  I don't see any harm for
>it to
>> be there for someone who could use it.
>>
>> David Carlson
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 3:46 PM David H <hellvee at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > It's a NO from me.  When I reconcile my approx 10 credit card /
>mortgage
>> /
>> > savings accounts / superannuation accounts I'm always reconciling
>to a
>> > monthly / annual statement and I rarely have issues.  The
>> > reconciliation window pops up and shows all relevant transactions
>> including
>> > the uncleared transactions and it's not difficult to do the actual
>> > reconciliation.   Being the type of person that enters transactions
>daily
>> > as they occur and logs on to 4 different banks and a superannuation
>fund
>> > each morning to check balances and enter the odd missing
>transaction my
>> > accounts are generally right up to date and accurate :-)
>> >
>> > Frankly until today I wasn't even aware there was an AutoClear menu
>item
>> > under "Actions" and after using GnuCash for nigh on 15 years can't
>think
>> of
>> > a use case that is relevant in my situation.
>> >
>> > I also agree with the comment that if you are going to remove the
>choice
>> > from users as to whether a function is optional or not you should
>> provide a
>> > preference to turn it off and on - even if as has been suggested
>you
>> aren't
>> > likely to see this popup if you don't have uncleared transactions.
>A
>> quick
>> > scan down the list of transactions in the reconcile window shows me
>which
>> > transactions aren't marked as cleared and is all I need.
>> >
>> > Anyway bottom line NOT something I'm interested in or want to use.
>> >
>> > This is a bit like the AutoComplete function that from memory also
>> doesn't
>> > have an option to disable - 99 times out of 100 I end up pressing
>Esc to
>> > cancel as it's not quite what I want.
>> >
>> > Cheers David H.
>> >
>> > On Fri, 12 Dec 2025 at 18:05, Liz <edodd at billiau.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > > On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:26:34 -0600
>> > > Adrien Monteleone <adrien.monteleone at lusfiber.net> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > This feature is baffling.
>> > > >
>> > > > Reconciliation isn't a math problem. It isn't just checking off
>*any*
>> > > > combination of transactions that get you from Starting to
>Ending
>> > > > balance, it is an audit to mark *specific* transactions that
>cleared
>> > > > the account.
>> > > >
>> > > > Regards,
>> > > > Adrien
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > +1
>> > >
>> > > Liz
>> > > _______________________________________________
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